Calzaghe shuns retirement talk

Joe Calzaghe has put all thoughts of retirement on the backburner ahead of his fight against Roy Jones Jnr next month.

The undefeated Welshman takes on Jones at New York's Madison Square Garden in what promises to be a mouth-watering showdown.

"I'm just concentrating on November 8," said Calzaghe. "I don't really want to talk about retirement."

Calzaghe's father and trainer, Enzo, insisted if his son decides to hang up his gloves in November, it will be with his blessing.

"Everybody has a dream," added Calzaghe senior. "I dreamed of meeting the Beatles but Joe, all his life, was dreaming of Madison Square Garden and where the legends have been.

"He is there now boxing a fighter who deserves to be there."

Meanwhile, Calzaghe has ruled out a rematch against Bernard Hopkins following the veteran's stunning victory over Kelly Pavlik at the weekend.

Hopkins, 43, rolled back the years to hand the world middleweight champion his first ever defeat in a lop-sided points victory in Atlantic City on Saturday.

After the fight, talk turned to Hopkins facing Calzaghe in a rematch of their close contest in Las Vegas earlier this year, which saw the Newbridge southpaw claim a split-decision win.

"He is thinking of the money," said Calzaghe when told Hopkins was prepared to face him on British soil. "At the end of the day, I didn't fight my best and he lost and I did that in Las Vegas. What chance has he got over here?"